Arch support



Dec. 13, 1938. J. 5. HOWELL 2,140,013

ARCH SUPPORT Filed Dec. 4, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VENTOR. OSEPH 61 /70WE1 L ATTORNEY S 1938- J. c. HOWELL 2,140,013

ARCH SUPPORT Filed Dec. 4, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M. j M I INVENTOR.

' 76 I JwEH/C/m/VEM I KMYW ATTORNEYS Dec. 13, 1938. I

JQc. HOWELL 2,140,013 7 ARCH SUPPORT Filed Dec. 4, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 z g'. 1a

INVENTOR. Jose-Hi6. #OWELL.

ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 13, 1938 UNE'EEE STATES atten PATENT or ies 8 Claims.

This invention relates to arch supports and has par cular reference to an improved assemblage of adjustably connected units for the metatarsal and longitudinal arches of the foot.

The invention has for its principal purpose, an assemblage of resilient arch supporting units for the metatarsal and longitudinal arches of the foot which units are adjustable longitudinally, transversely and angularly and which includes means adapted to connect the arches together and to engage with the sole of the shoe for anchoring the same against movement.

More particularly the invention includes arch supporting units having extensions adapted to overlap, and means for connecting the same which permits of selective adjustment of the units with respect to each other and for anchoring the units to the shoe in adjusted relation.

ihe invention further provides arch supporting units for the metatarsal and longitudinal arches of the foot, the unit for supporting the longitudinal arch extending forwardly from a point overlying the heel of the shoe and terminating at a point alongside of the metatarsal arch of the foot with the forward portion thereof provided with a concave inner edge for receiving and accommodating the adjacent side edge of the metatarsal unit so that the said arches merge one with the other, together with means for adjustably connecting the arches together and for anchoring the same to the sole of the shoe.

The invention further comprehends in one of its units a flexible member, a resilient arch plate underlying and connected to the said member, a tension plate underlying the said arch plate and connected therewith at its ends for effecting a differential upward arching of the arch plate and means engageable therewith for adjustably anchoring the same to the shoe sole.

The invention further includes in one of its forms, an arch supporting member comprising upper and lower plies of material connected together at their edges to define a pocket therebetween for selectively receiving filler pads for effecting differential upward arching of the upper ply and means of connection between the units which permits of the relative adjustment of the units and the pivotal adjustment of the metatarsal unit at a plurality of longitudinally 'and transversely spaced points, together with means engaging with the units and with the sole of the shoe for securing said adjustments with the units disposed in any desired position on the sole of the shoe.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of arch supporting units for the metatarsal and longitudinal arches of the foot embodying one form of the invention and illustrated in relative position to a shoe shown in broken lines.

Fig. 2 is an inner edge view thereof showing the same in applied position.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the upper member of the longitudinal arch supporting unit.

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the lower spring plate of the said arch supporting unit.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the metatarsal arch supporting unit separated from the longitudinal arch supporting unit.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a modified form of metatarsal and longitudinal arch supporting units illustrated in applied position with reference to the shoe shown in broken lines.

Fig. 8 is an outer edge view thereof in applied position.

Fig. 9 is a top plan View of the tension plate of the longitudinal arch supporting unit.

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are top plan views of the spring metal plates forming a part of the said longitudinal arch supporting unit. 7

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view through the metatarsal arch supporting unit on line l3l3 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 14 is a bottom plan View of the metatarsal arch supporting unit.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view on line l5--l5 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 16 is a top plan view of a modified form of metatarsal arch supporting unit.

Fig. 17 is a bottom plan View thereof.

Fig. 18 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line l8l8 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line l9-l9 of Fig. 17.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference and more particularly to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the arch supporting device includes a metatarsal arch supporting unit lo and a longitudinal arch supporting unit ii.

The metatarsal arch supporting unit ill is of general oval formation in contour with a rearwardly directed convergent shank portion l2 and 7 includes a flat lower surface l3 and a convex upper surface i l. The said arch support is provided with an attaching member l5 fashioned from deformable sheet metal, leather or any other equivalent material and which is formed with a plurality of longitudinally and transversely spaced openings l6 underlying the shank portion l2 thereof and with a bifurcated forward end secured to the under surface l3 of the unit by rivets IT or other equivalent securing means, the furcations of said forward end being provided with longitudinally extending slots I8 functioning to increase the flexibility of the said member.

The longitudinal arch supporting unit II includes an upper member l9 constructed from deformable sheet metal, leather or any other equivalent material and extends from a point overlying a portion of the heel of the shoe forwardly thereof under the inner longitudinal arch of the foot to a point alongside of the metatarsal arch supporting unit ID. The upper member I9 is provided in the forward end thereof with a concave inner edge portion 20 for receiving and accommodating the adjacent side edge of the metatarsal unit so that the same may be positioned in close relation merging one with the other in the region of the metatarsal arch.

In order to provide means for connecting the arch supporting unit I I with the arch supporting unit to by a common securing element, the inner side edge of the upper member I9 is provided with a lateral extension 2| intermediate the ends thereof which is formed with a plurality of longitudinally and transversely spaced openings 22 and which extension is adapted to be arranged in lapped relation with the attaching member iii of the arch supporting unit H] with any one of the openings l6 thereof in registration with any one of the openings 22 of the upper member IS. The inner side edge 23 of the upper member l9 extends rearwardly and outwardly from the extension 2| at an angle tothe outer side edge 24 and provides a substantially pointed rear terminal 25.

In order to increase the flexibility of the portion of the upper member 19 in the region of the edge 23, the same is formed with longitudinally spaced inwardly extending slits 26 when the member I9 is of metal. The forward terminal 21 of the upper member I9 is of a width to provide a substantial bearing surface at the forward end of the arch unit II and in order to afford the desired flexibility at the medial portion of the said upper member I 9, the same is provided with longitudinally extending transversely spaced slots 28 when the said member is formed of metal.

The arch supporting unit II also includes a spring metal plate 29 underlying the upper member l9 and which is longitudinally arched with the highest point thereof under the inner longitudinal arch of the foot and which decreases in height towards the opposite ends thereof and laterally towards the inner curved side edge with its terminal ends welded as at 30 or otherwise secured to the terminal ends 25 and 21 respectively. The arch plate 29 is of general triangular formation in contour, with its greatest width substantially intermediate the ends thereof and with the forwardly and rearwardly directed inner side edge portions 3| and 32 extending outwardly and at an angle to the outer side edge 33 thereof and which edge portions are welded or otherwise secured to the upper member 99 as at 34. In order to render the medial portion thereof more flexible, the inner side edge thereof is slitted as at 35 so as to provide an elliptical tongue 36 which is formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending slots 31.

Underlying the spring metal plate 29 is a similarly longitudinally arched spring metal plate 38 which is also of general triangular formation in contour. The said plate 38 is provided medially thereof with a concave inner edge portion 39 and with forwardly and rearwardly directed inner edge portions 46 and H which extend outwardly and at an angle to the outer side edge &2. The opposite ends of the plate 38 and the inner side edges adjacent the concave edge portion 39 are secured to the spring plate 29 by welding 43 or other equivalent fastening means.

For the purpose of maintaining the arched plates 29 and 38 in longitudinal arched formation, the arch supporting unit H also includes a tension plate comprising oppositely disposed sections 64 and 45 which are spot-welded as at it or otherwise secured at their opposite ends to the ends of the arch plate 38. The inner ends of the sections 44 and 45 are disposed in overlapped relation and provided with a registering slot ll adapted to receive a bolt 13 for selectively tensioning the tension plate so as to produce a differential upward arching of the arch plates 29 and 38.

The arch supporting units it and l l are adapted to be positioned and selectively adjusted longitudinally and transversely of the sole of the shoe and angularly about a vertical pivotal connection consisting of a bolt l?) extending through any one of the openings it in the attaching member I5 and through any one of the openings 22 in the extension ii of the upper member IS with the inner end thereof engaged in the threaded opening 59 of an anchoring member 5| embedded in or secured to the sole of the shoe for anchoring the units in relative adjusted relation.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 7 to 15 inclusive, the arch supporting unit 55 for the metatarsal arch and the arch supporting unit 55 for the longitudinal arch are of the same general configuration in contour respectively as the units it and H in the previous embodiment. The arch supporting unit 55 includes upper and lower plies 5'17 and 58 respectively fashioned from leather, rubber or any analogous flexible material which are secured together adjacent their edges by stitching 55 or other. equivalent means so as to define a pocket therebetween, the lower ply 53 being provided with an arcuate slit 6!] defining a mouth for introducing therethrough filler pads ti for producing a difierential upward arching of the upper ply 57.

Secured to the outer surface of the lower ply 58 by rivets 62 or other securing means, is an attaching member t3 fashioned from deformable sheet metal, leather or any other equivalent material and which is provided with a plurality of longitudinally and transversely spaced openings 64 adjacent the rear thereof and underlying the shank portion of the said unit. The attaching member 63 is formed with an enlarged forward end which is provided with a plurality of forwardly extending flexible fingers 65 which overlie the mouth opening 6!! and serve as a closure therefor.

The longitudinal arch supporting unit 56 includes an upper member 55 fashioned from deformable sheet metal, leather or any other equivalent material and extends from a point overlying a portion of the heel of the shoe to a point alongside of the metatarsal arch supporting unit 55. The said member is of general triangular shape in contour with the forwardly and rearwardly directed inner side edge portions'fi'l and 88 extending outwardly and at an angle to the 75 outer side edge 69 and providing pointed front rear terminals it and H. Underlying the upper member 56 is a plurality of spring metal plates l2, l3 and 'l i which are longitudinally arched with the highest point thereof under the inner longitudinal arch of the foot and substantially medially of the said plates, the said plates decreasing in height towards the opposite ends thereof and laterally towards the inwardly curved side edges. The plate 12 is of the same general contour as the spring metal plate 29 of the longitudinal arch supporting unit If, while the plates I3 and it are the same general shape as the spring metal plate 38 of the longitudinal arch unit II. The plate 13 is welded at its opposite ends and along the outer side edge as at I5 to the underside of the plate I2, while the plate M is likewise similarly welded as at IE to the underside of the plate '53, the said plates when so united forming a resilient support for the upper member 65 and to which the spring plate I2 is welded or otherwise secured at its ends and along the inner side edge thereof as at H to the underside thereof.

Underlying the said arch plates is a tension plate 78 which is of the same general shape in contour as the upper member IQ of the arch supporting unit I I and is similarly provided with an inwardly directed lateral extension I9 formed with a plurality of longitudinally and transversely spaced openings for selective registration thereof with the openings 54 of the attaching member 53 of the metatarsal arch support 55. The tension plate it is welded or otherwise secured at its ends to the ends of the spring metal plates 72, i3 and 'Hi and to the upper member 6% along the inwardly curved side edge as at 8!.

In order to provide means for producing a differential upward arching of the spring plates and the upper member '65, the tension plate It is formed substantially medially thereofwith an arcuate slit 82 which slit merges with a laterally extending slit 23 forming furcations upon the upper surface of which the bifurcated ends 8% of a spring tongue 85 are welded or otherwise secured thereto as at 86. The spring tongue 85 protrudes through the arcuate slit 82 and is formed adjacent the outer end thereof with a rectangular slot Bl adapted to receive and hold against turning movement the kerfed head 33 of an upstanding bolt 39 The bolt 89 is engaged by a flanged nut 99 which protrudes through registering oblong openings 9! in the tension plate I8 and resilient reenforcing plate 92 which is welded as at 93 or otherwise secured to the upper surface thereof. Turning of the bolt 89 functions to produce a differential spacing of the longitudinal edge portion of the tension plate I8 from the free end of the tongue 85 which rests upon the upper surface of' the insole of the shoe and thereby a differential arching of the spring plates l2, I3 and it and the upper member 66. In order to turn the bolt 89 with reference to the nut 38, the kerfed head 88 is disengaged from the slot 81 and after the adjustment is made the head 88 is again reengaged with the opening 8'! to lock the arch in adjusted position.

The arch supporting units 55 and 56 are adapted to be positioned upon the insole of a shoe and selectively adjusted longitudinally and transversely thereof and angularly about a bolt 94 extending through any one of the openings 64 of the arch support 55 and through any one of the openings 8% of the arch support 56 with the inner end of said bolt engaged in a threaded opening in an anchoring shank embedded in or secured to the sole of the shoe, similar to the vertical pivotal connection of the bolt 49 of the arch supporting units I0 and II.

In place of the metatarsal arch supporting units It and 55 in the previous forms of the invention, the metatarsal arch supporting unit illustrated in Figs. 16 to 19 inclusive may be employed. This metatarsal arch supporting unit includes a spring metal plate .97 of general oval formation in contour conforming generally to the region of the metatarsal arch of the foot and with a convex upper surface and a concave lower surface. The plate 9? is formed with pairs of rearwardly and forwardly extending arcuate slits 98 and 58 extending inwardly from the forward and rearward marginal edges thereof to define forwardly and rearwardly disposed tongues I00 and IN, the forward tongue I00 being longitudinally slitted medially thereof by a slit I02 extending inwardly from the forward edge thereof to a point adjacent the center. For the purpose of increasing the flexibility thereof, the said tongues are provided with substantially longitudinally extending slits I03, the outer ends of which are spaced from the marginal edges of the" said tongues while the body of the plate is formed with longitudinally spaced, substantially transversely extending slits I04 with their outer ends spaced from the marginal edges of the laterally side edges of said plate. Underlying the plate 91' is a tension plate consisting of oppositely disposed sections I535 and E06, the forward section I135 having its outer edge contoured to the form of the forward edge of the tongue I08 and welded as at Ill'l or otherwise secured to the said tongue adjacent the forward edge thereof. The section I06 is similarly welded as at N88 or otherwise secured to the tongue Iii! adjacent the outer edge thereof with the reduced inwardly extending portions of said sections overlapped and provided with registering slots 569 for receiving therethrough a bolt lid adapted to adjustably secure the sections together for varying the stress on the said tongues Hit and MI so as to produce a differential longitudinal and transverse upward arching of the plate 9'5. The section I136 is formed with a rearwardly extending shank portion HI provided with longitudinally and transversely spaced openings H2 for selective engagement by the bolt 49 or when employed in place of the arch supporting units It and 55 of the previous forms.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the character described, an arch supporting unit including a deformable metallic plate, a resilient arch plate underlying said deformable plate and connected therewith, a tension plate underlying said arch plate and connected therewith at its ends, one of said plates having an extension provided with a plurality of longitudinally and transversely spaced openings, and means adapted to engage with the sole of a shoe to selectively extend through any one of said openings for adjustably anchoring the unit to the shoe.

2. An arch supporting device in combination with a shoe having an anchoring member secured to the sole thereof and provided with a threaded opening, comprising a pair of arch supporting units each having an arched upper surface and each including a member provided with a plurality of longitudinally and transversely spaced openings, said members being adapted to be disposed in overlying relation one with the other to selectively register any one of the openings in one member with any one of the openings in the other, and means adapted to extend through the registered openings and to engage with the threaded opening of the same anchoring member for anchoring the units to the sole of the shoe.

3. An arch supporting device in combination with a shoe having a metal plate embedded in the sole thereof and provided with a threaded opening, comprising a pair of arch supporting units each having an arched supper surface, means on said units provided with a plurality of longitudinally and transversely spaced openings adapted to be arranged in overlying relation to adjustably register any one of the openings in one of the units with any one of the openings in the other unit, and means adapted to engage with the threaded opening in the metallic plate embedded in the sole of the shoe and to extend through the registered openings in said units for anchoring the units in adjusted position in the sole of the shoe.

4. An arch supporting unit in combination with a shoe having a metal plate embedded in the sole thereof and provided with a threaded opening, comprising a flexible member, a resilient arch plate underlying said member and connected therewith, a tension plate underlying said arch plate and connected therewith at its ends, one of said plates having an extension provided with a plurality of longitudinally and transversely spaced openings, and means adapted to engage with the threaded opening in the metal plate embedded in the sole of the shoe and to selectively extend through any one of said openings in said extension for adjustably anchoring the unit to the shoe.

5. In a device of the character described, an arch supporting unit including an arched upper member, a resilient arch plate underlying said member and secured thereto at its ends, a tension plate underlying said arch plate and secured thereto at its ends for maintaining said arch member and said arch plate in arched formation, a tongue secured to said tension plate and extending under the outer longitudinal edge portion thereof, and means engaging said tongue and said tension plate for producing a difierential stress on the tension plate so as to produce a diiferential upward arching of the V arch plate and the upper arched member.

6. In a device of the character described, an arch supporting unit including an arched upper member, a resilient arch plate underlying said member and secured thereto, a tension plate underlying said arch plate and secured thereto at its ends, means for producing a differential tensioning of the tension plate so as to produce a differential upward arching of the said upper member and the arch plate, said upper member having a plurality of spaced openings, and means adapted to selectively extend through any one of said openings and to engage with the sole of the shoe for adjustably anchoring the unit thereto.

7. In a device of the character described, an arch supporting unit including an arched upper member, a resilient arch plate underlying said member and secured thereto at its ends, a ten-- sion plate underlying said arch plate and secured thereto at its ends for maintaining said upper member and arch plate in arched formation. said upper member having its highest point substantially centrally of its ends and decreasing in height laterally towards the outer side edge thereof, said tension member being secured to the upper member at its ends and at points along the outer side edge thereof, and said tension plate being provided with a plurality of openings, and means adapted to engage with the sole of the shoe to selectively extend through any one of said openings for adjustably anchoring the unit to the shoe.

8. In a device of the character described, an arch supporting unit having a resilient arched upper plate, a tension plate underlying said arch plate, including a pair of sections adjustably connected together and respectively secured to the opposite ends of said arch plate, one section thereof being provided with a rearward extension having a plurality of longitudinally and transversely spaced openings, and means adapted to engage with the sole of a shoe and to selectively extend through any one of said open ings for adjustably anchoring the unit to the shoe.

JOSEPH C. HOWELL. 

